Bhubaneswar Wins ‘Best Public Transport System’ at 17th Urban Mobility India Conference 2024

Bhubaneswar Wins ‘Best Public Transport System’ at 17th Urban Mobility India Conference 2024: The valedictory session of the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Bhubaneswar was awarded the title of ‘City with the Best Public Transport System.’ The event, which celebrated advancements in sustainable urban mobility, also recognized Srinagar for having the ‘Best Non-Motorized Transport System.’

Highlights from the Conference

Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, who addressed the closing session, emphasized India’s growing prominence in the global transport sector, stating, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has now reached third place in the world for operational rail networks, with the metro network poised to become the second largest soon.” He also highlighted the implementation of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which aims to unify various transport systems across the nation.

Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, applauded the UMI conference initiative since its inception in 2008 and noted the significant achievement of over one crore daily metro ridership in India.

Award Categories and Winners

The UMI awards recognize excellence in urban transport, with various categories acknowledging best practices. This year, a total of 12 awards were presented, including:

1. City with the Most Sustainable Transport System: Kochi (Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.)
2. City with the Best Public Transport System: Bhubaneswar (Capital Region Urban Transport)
3. City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System: Srinagar (Srinagar Smart City Ltd.)
4. City with the Best Safety and Security System: Gandhinagar (Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation)
5. City with the Best Intelligent Transport System: Surat (Surat Municipal Corporation)
6. City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism: Jammu (Jammu Smart City Ltd.)
7. City with Best Record of Public Involvement in Transport: Bengaluru (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation)
8. Metro Rail with the Best Multimodal Integration: Bengaluru (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.)
9. Metro Rail with the Best Passenger Services: Mumbai (Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd.)

During the session, Shri Manohar Lal announced Gurugram, Haryana, as the venue for the upcoming 18th UMI Conference & Exhibition in 2025.

About the 17th UMI Conference

The 17th UMI Conference & Exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in collaboration with the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and supported by the Government of Gujarat. The event attracted over 2,200 delegates, including international participants, showcasing best practices and technologies in urban transport. With 76 exhibitors, including companies from Germany, France, and Spain, the exhibition served as a significant platform for Indian and foreign manufacturers.

This year’s theme, “Standardisation and Optimisation of Urban Transport Solutions,” focused on harmonizing standards to improve urban mobility. Discussions covered a range of topics, including integrating various transport modes, funding strategies, and the importance of data in transport planning.

Conclusion

The 17th Urban Mobility India Conference 2024 has reinforced the commitment of Indian cities to develop sustainable and efficient transport systems. With Bhubaneswar and Srinagar leading the way, the recognition of innovative transport solutions paves the path for a more connected and environmentally friendly urban future.

Gurugram to Host 18th UMI Conference in 2025